The idea for the Workshop on Neutron and Synchrotron Radiation Studies of Materials grew out of our conversations with materials scientists in recent years. There is an initial barrier to ‘user- mode’ research that must be overcome by potential first time users of facilities such as the HFBR and NSLS. Many groups, realizing the power of these tools in materials characterization, would like to try a few experiments to judge their relevance to their own work, but are put off by a perception that the techniques are esoteric and best left to the specialists in x-ray or neutron scattering. This is untrue for many of the techniques most useful in the first characterization of new materials, e.g. powder diffraction, small angle scattering, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and nothing exposes this misconception as thoroughly as a little first hand experience. Fortunately, the Center of Excellence for the Synthesis and Processing of Advanced Materials, a new program financed by the US. Department of Energy, agreed and provided the funding for this Workshop. The Workshop organizers were J. Hastings, S. Hulbert, S. Shapiro, R. Thomas and myself. R. Greenberg was the Workshop Coordinator. In overall concept the Workshop was patterned after the more ambitious HERCULES Workshops held in Grenoble for the last two years.